Kashmir-Illusion and reality

Try as they might, Kashmiris have little power when it comes to deciding their own fate. They are mere pawns in the hands of India and Pakistan who are destined to play the death dance forever.

Kashmir was always intended to be a festering open wound which would keep India bleeding and at loggerheads with Pakistan thus leaving us with little time or energy for any other meaningful pursuits of true growth or development into a major world power. This parting self-gift of the British was soon taken over by the Americans at the end of the Second World War when British colonialism waned and American imperialism sought new gains. Since then, America has supplied the ammunition and technology to Pakistan that has killed and maimed our jawans and created much domestic unrest.

Now thanks to the disobedience of the Frankenstein monster of terrorism it created and utilized quite effectively until now by proxy, America wants to bring Pakistan to heel. Like Iraq, Pakistani terrorism could have been tolerated and abetted until it got out of American hands and became unpredictable and self-destructive.

To our detriment, India is now being groomed to step into this privileged position of America’s lieutenant in South Asia due to the increasing probability of Pakistan failing completely. Consequently the Hindu right has been wooed to rush into Uncle Sam’s welcoming embrace.

I am not an America basher. In fact, I have utmost respect for Americans. I have many American friends and many Indian friends and relatives who reside in America. I am just stating the truth about the direction that American foreign policy has taken and I feel strongly that India should not forfeit the unique position of nonalignment that our forefathers had so painstakingly carved. I urge more people-to-people contact but think that prudence is the best course while treading the path of political, military, and strategic alliances.